Multi-directional transport device for scaffolding

ABSTRACT

A multi-directional scaffold transport device, which may be attached to each base of a scaffold&#39;s legs, provides increased mobility in relation to movement atop corrugated floor decking with vertical anchor studs used in conventional steel I-beam superstructures. The device comprises an elongated flat plate with angled extensions. The angled extensions may form a trapezoidal shape, or more preferably a triangular shape, and may be curved or have compound curvature to enable deflection of the device to either side of any anchor stud encountered, rather than jamming thereon. The elongated flat plate may have minimal length sufficient to normally receive support from at least two peaks of the corrugated decking. The device may incorporate threaded studs protruding from the elongated flat plate, which may be received by holes in the base of the scaffold, and be removeably fastened thereto using nuts. The device may also incorporate vertical walls for increased stiffness.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in construction devicesand methods, and more particularly to devices and methods that improvethe functionality of scaffolding typically used in construction andremodeling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Scaffolding has many uses, particularly for the construction andmaintenance of buildings. A scaffold assembly can be used as a singletier, but is usually formed to allow stacking of the scaffold assemblyso that many tiers may be joined to provide workers with the ability toreach great heights above the ground or above a particular floor in abuilding. Very often, the tiers of a scaffold may be so high that theymust be tied to a building to prevent accidents. Several tiers ofscaffolding being so stacked can become unstable, which may beexacerbated by the movements of the workers, by high winds, and by othernatural and man-made factors.

But when scaffolds are used during the construction process within abuilding utilizing steel I-beam construction, stability does notgenerally pose a serious problem, and instead, mobility is a factor tobe considered. The mobility of the scaffold may adversely impactproductivity, even where the scaffold assembly might only be one or twotiers high, while working on an individual floor of a modern building.The scaffolding would therefore not need to be tied to a wall, andconversely may need to be constantly relocated to various positionsthroughout the building's floor.

The worker's productivity may be limited by mobility, due to themethodology utilized in steel I-beam construction. The initial phase ofconstruction for the building often involves the substructure, in whichpiles may be driven down to reach bedrock, alternatively, shafts may bedrilled, into which steel reinforcing rods are inserted, and the shaftsare then filled with concrete. A foundation platform consisting ofreinforced concrete is then poured above the support columns. Rising upfrom the foundation platform is the superstructure. A common method offorming the building's superstructure for modern office buildings andskyscrapers involves erecting steel I-beam columns, to which areattached steel girders and cross-beams that form a steel skeleton.

Steel Decking is then attached to the horizontal I-beams, usually beingwelded in place. The decking typically consists of panels of thincorrugated steel. An early example of the steel decking that may be usedis illustrated in FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No. 757,519 to Turnbull, which has“cylindric corrugations.” A later example is shown by U.S. Pat. No.4,453,364 to Ting which generally has flat surfaces- peaks, valleys, andsloping webs that form trapezoidal corrugations.

It has been known for some time, in the art of construction, to attachanchor studs to steel I-beams to serve as a shear transfer element,which is shown by U.S. Pat. No. 2,987,855 to Singleton. Singleton alsoshows use of steel decking that has wave-like corrugations, and whichappear more sinusoidal than cylindric. It is also quite common to weldsteel anchor studs to the decking at the I-beam locations, with one suchapproach being shown by U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,379 to Curran. Generally, atsome optimum point in the construction sequence thereafter, concrete ispoured over the corrugated decking and anchor studs to establish theparticular floor of the building. However, before the concrete isactually poured, and after the decking and the studs have been securedto provide a stable platform, many other steps are performed tofacilitate the overall construction of each floor, includinginstallation of diagonal side bracing, which requires use ofscaffolding.

At this point in the construction, the scaffolding must be placed atopthe steel decking in a manner that makes it stable, despite only havingperiodic support from the corrugations. It is not uncommon to bolt thebase plates of the scaffold shown in FIG. 7, to a series of wood plankswhich may form a rectangular base. But the scaffold then must be liftedand carried from position to position about the decking, which mightrequire removal of the wood planks in order to reduce the weight of thescaffold assembly being transported.

The multi-directional transport device disclosed herein may be attachedto each base of a typical scaffold, to provide a more efficient means ofrelocating the scaffolding about the decking without use of woodplanking, and without the need to lift and carry the assembly, possiblyeliminating the need for the assistance of a second worker.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a means for supporting ascaffold assembly on the corrugated steel decking of a building's I-beamsuperstructure.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a means of stabilizinga scaffold assembly when being utilized atop the corrugated steeldecking of a building's I-beam superstructure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a scaffold supportdevice that can remain affixed to the scaffold during itstransportation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which mayincrease the mobility of a scaffold assembly while being utilized atopthe corrugated steel decking of a building's I-beam superstructure.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device which may beattached to the base of a scaffold assembly and permit the scaffold toslide across the corrugations of the steel decking of a buildingssub-floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to providing improved mobility to atypical scaffold assembly being utilized in the maintenance of buildingsor at building construction sites. A conventional scaffold assembly isshown in FIG. 7, and typically has a plurality of legs to providesupport, which usually terminate in a flat base in order to providestability. Where the scaffold is principally utilized in a singlelocation for a substantial period of time, scaffold mobility is not asignificant factor. However, where scaffolding is utilized on individualfloors of a new multi-story building, mobility may be an importantfactor, as it may affect productivity. This is especially true where thebuilding is constructed using a standard I-beam superstructure withcorrugated floor decking having vertical anchor studs.

To facilitate increased mobility of a construction scaffold in thatscenario, and thereby increase productivity, the multi-directionalscaffold device herein disclosed may be attached to the scaffold's legs.The device comprises an elongated flat plate with an angled extension atrespective ends of the flat plate. The length of the elongated flatplate may be chosen to always obtain support from at least two peaks ofthe corrugated steel decking. The angled extensions may be have atrapezoidal shape, or may alternatively have a triangular shape. Theangled extensions may also be flat, or they may alternatively curveupwards. They may additionally have curvature in two directions,resulting in a compound curved surface. These variations for the angledextensions may be incorporated to provide a means of having tangentialcontact of the multi-directional transport device with the anchor studsof the floor deck, and thereby greatly reduce the possibility of jammingon an anchor stud due to direct contact from a flat surface, which wouldimpede ease of scaffold movement by a single worker.

The multi-directional scaffold device may have vertical wallsincorporated into it to provide stiffness, which may be necessary wherethe scaffold being supported will be very heavy. These walls maycomprise integral stiffeners, or may alternatively be separate flangeswhich are welded to the elongated flat plate and angled extensions. Thestiffeners may also be in the form of other geometric shapes, such as anangle, which may be fastened, rather than welded, to the elongated flatplate and angled extensions.

To facilitate attachment of the multi-directional transport device tothe scaffold, the device may incorporate threaded studs that protrudevertically from the top of the elongated flat plate. Holes may bedrilled in the flat base of the scaffold legs to receive the studs, andnuts may then be threaded onto the studs to removeably attach the deviceto the scaffold.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view and side view of a first embodiment of themulti-directional scaffold transport device.

FIG. 2 is a top view, side view, and section cut through a secondembodiment of the multi-directional scaffold transport device, shownwith threaded studs.

FIG. 3 is a top view, side view, and section cut through a thirdembodiment of the multi-directional scaffold transport device.

FIG. 4 is a top view and side view of a fourth embodiment of themulti-directional scaffold transport device.

FIG. 5 is a top view and side view of a fifth embodiment of themulti-directional scaffold transport device.

FIG. 6 is a top view and side view of a sixth embodiment of themulti-directional scaffold transport device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a typical construction scaffold.

FIG. 8 is a section view of the second embodiment of themulti-directional scaffold transport device, shown attached to the baseof a construction scaffold, and sitting atop the corrugated steeldecking of a building's superstructure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of a modified leg and base of a scaffold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the multi-directional scaffoldtransport device 20 of the present invention. The multi-directionalscaffold transport device 20 may be constructed of any appropriatematerial, including, but not limited to, aluminum, steel, titanium,brass, phenolic, plastic, or wood. The multi-directional scaffoldtransport device 20 may be formed from sheet metal comprised of multiplebends, or it may be an assembly of parts fastened or welded together, orit may be a casting, or a machined part. The method of manufacture andthe material utilized to produce the device may be determined by themanufacturer, and may be specially selected to suit the particularscaffolding and building site.

The multi-directional scaffold transport device 20 in FIG. 1 may becomprised of an elongated flat plate 21, which may be defined as havinga top surface 22, a bottom surface 23, a first end 24, a second end 25,a first side 26, and a second side 27. In a preferred embodiment thefirst end 24 and second end 25 are generally parallel to each other, andfirst side 26 and second side 27 are also generally parallel to eachother, to generally form a rectangular-shaped plate. The length of thefirst side 26 and second side 27 are approximately equal, and each ofwhich may be several times longer than the length of first end 24 andsecond end 25, which themselves are approximately equal to each other inlength.

Extending from first end 24 may be a first angled extension plate 30.First angled extension plate 30 may be integral to first end 24 ofelongated flat plate 21, and thus may simply be a bent up sheet metalflange extending therefrom, or alternatively it may be mechanicallyfastened onto or welded to first end 24 of elongated flat plate 21. Asecond angled extension plate 40 may extend from second end 25 just thesame as is herein described for first angled extension plate 30extending from first end 24.

First angled extension plate 30 may be described as having a top 31, abottom 32, a fixed end 33, an elevated end 34, a first tapered side 35,and a second tapered side 36. In a preferred embodiment, first taperedside 35 and second tapered side 36 both angle towards each other, sothat the width of the plate narrows in moving from fixed end 33 toelevated end 34. In one embodiment, first tapered side 35 and saidsecond tapered 36 side may terminate on a flat edge surface 37 atelevated end 34, for both the first and second angled extension plates30 and 40. Where the flat edge surface 37 is formed to be parallel tothe fixed end 33, the first angular extension plate and second angularextension plate will each roughly have a trapezoidal shape.

First angled extension plate 30 may be a flat plate such that top 31 andbottom 32 are planar and parallel to each other (FIG. 1). In a preferredembodiment, first angled extension plate 30 may be flat and so formed tocreate acute angle 29 relative to the top surface 22 and bottom surface23 of elongated flat plate 21.

The length of the elongated flat plate 21 of the multi-directionalscaffold transport device 20 may preferably be sized to span between thepeaks of the corrugations of the floor decking shown in FIG. 5 of U.S.Pat. No. 757,519 to Turnbull, or as shown in FIG. 5 of U.S. Pat. No.3,177,619 to Benjamin, or those in FIG. 2 of U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,379 toCurran. Although the spacing of the peaks of the corrugations used todayfor the floor decking may vary from building to building, corrugationswith a six inches spacing is quite common. Therefore the length of flatplate 21 may, in that instance, be approximately twelve inches orslightly longer, so that when it is attached to the base 13 of ascaffold assembly 11 (FIG. 7), which is being maneuvered across thefloor deck's corrugations, the device will always be supported by atleast two peaks. This will be the case where the decking has trapezoidalcorrugations offering more stable support from its flat peak surfaces,or the wave-like corrugations. However, the length may be modified to beshorter or longer to suit less common spacing between corrugations, orsimilar obstacles in other applications.

The multi-directional scaffold device 20 may be required to support ascaffold having tools or other items atop of it or attached to it,making the overall combined weight to be supported a significant designfactor. Therefore, the scaffold device 20 may preferably have verticalstiffeners 51 which may be integral, and may protrude upward from firstside 26 and second side 27 of elongated flat plate 21 (FIG. 3). Manyalterative embodiments that incorporate vertical stiffeners arepossible. A continuous integral wall 52 may protrude vertically from thefirst end 24, second end 25, first side 26, and a second side 27 offirst angled extension plate 30 to form a rectangular-shaped enclosure,as shown in FIG. 4. Alternatively, a continuous wall 53 may protrudevertically from only the periphery of the multi-directional transportdevice, and thereby protrude from first side 26 and second side 27 ofelongated flat plate 21, from first tapered side 35 and second taperedside 36 of both first and second angled extension plates 30 and 40, andfrom elevated end 34, as shown in FIG. 5. Also, those various possiblestiffener arrangements—stiffeners 51, 52 and 53—instead of beingintegrally formed, may comprise separate parts which are attached to thedevice. Shown in FIG. 2, is an embodiment where L-shaped angles 54 ofdifferent lengths are attached to the periphery of the device to providestiffness. The attachment means of the angles 54 may include, but is notlimited to, welding, and mechanical fasteners such as rivets, screws,nut and bolts, etc.

To function as an integral part of a typical scaffold, themulti-directional transport device must necessarily be fixed to thescaffolding being used at a particular construction site. A typicalscaffold 11 (FIG. 7) may have a leg 12, that terminates in a base 13.While there are many possible schemes for attachment of the device tothe scaffold base, including, but not limited to, welding, andmechanical fasteners such as rivets, screws, nut and bolts, etc, apreferred embodiment may incorporate threaded studs 60 into themulti-directional transport device 20 that may protrude vertically fromtop surface 22 of the elongated flat plate 21 (FIG. 2). They may beintegral to the elongated flat plate or attached to it by any suitablemeans, including, but not limited to, welding the threaded studsthereon. Two or more threaded studs 60 would likely be sufficient toattach the device to the base 13 of scaffold 11, but in a preferredembodiment, four threaded studs 60 may protrude from top surface 22 ofthe elongated flat plate 21, and may preferably be spaced in arectangular pattern. The pattern may preferably be centrally located soas to be approximately mid-way between first end 24 and said second end25 of said elongated flat plate 21, and approximately mid-way betweensaid first side 26 and second side 27. The spacing between adjacentthreaded studs 60 should be sufficient to provide adequate clearancefrom the leg 12 of scaffold 11.

The base 13 of scaffold 11 may have holes 14 drilled into it to providea clearance fit for acceptance of the studs 60. The multi-directionalscaffold device 20 may then be removably attached to scaffold 11 using aconventional fastening mean including, but not limited to, standard hexnuts 65 with lock washers, jam nuts, lug nuts, wing nuts, etc (FIG. 8).The attachment scheme may alternatively incorporate a quick releasefastening means for ease of assembly and disassembly onto the base 13 ofscaffold 11.

Maneuvering of the scaffold assembly 11 would be facilitated with themulti-directional transport device attached, as in FIG. 8, to permitsliding movement of the scaffold assembly atop the exposed floor deckingof a building's superstructure, as shown in FIG. 9. The relative slidingmovement will occur between the bottom surface 23 of multi-directionaltransport device 20, and the peaks of the corrugations. The slidingmotion will initially be resisted by a static frictional force, which isa threshold that must be overcome, and thereafter by a lesser slidingfrictional force. The friction force resisting movement, F_(f), isdetermined from the equation, F_(f)=μ·F_(n), where F_(n) is the normalforce or weight of the scaffold being moved, and μ is the coefficient offriction.

A coefficient of friction is an empirical property of two materialswhich are contacting each other, and which provides the relative motionbetween the two objects. The coefficient can range from near-zero togreater than one, and rougher surfaces have higher coefficients, butmost dry material in combination have friction coefficient vales between0.3 and 0.7. For example, ice on steel has a very low coefficient,whereas a rubber tire on concrete may, under certain conditions, have acoefficient of 1.7. As the coefficient varies dramatically from materialto material, this may be a consideration in the material selection forthe multi-directional scaffold transport device. The corrugated deckingwill typically be steel, so materials having a low coefficient offriction in relation to the steel will optimize sliding movement of thescaffold. Teflon has a very low coefficient of friction, often being aslittle as 0.04, and as such, it is commonly used in spherical bearings.

The multi-directional transport device 20 may need to be constructed ofa relatively high strength metal, but it could also be coated with afinish having a low coefficient of friction, such as Teflon, and enhancesliding movement. Additionally, although there would be a tendency towear away a coating like Teflon because of the scaffold's considerableweight and frequent usage, adding a lubricant to the bottom surface 23,whether coated or not, would improve sliding movement as well as thedevice's longevity. The material selected for the multi-directionaltransport device 20 and any coating that may be used will also alleviatefretting between the moving surfaces.

As described previously, the length of the elongated flat plate 21 needsto be roughly as long as the straight-line distance between two peaks ofthe corrugations in the floor decking being utilized (FIG. 9). It shouldbe apparent that the first and second angled extensions permitbi-directional movement of a scaffold fitted with the device, and theyalso serve to allow the device to climb up to the peak of a corrugationwhere the scaffold may be maneuvered at an angle relative to thecorrugations. With adjustments to the length of the device, a preferredembodiment may traverse at 15 degree angles relative to the axis of thecorrugations, or in a more preferred embodiment, traverse at 30 degreeangles, but in the most preferred embodiment may traverse at angles of60 to 90 degrees relative to the axis of the corrugations.

The device accomplishes multi-directional movement, and not simplybi-directional movement, because many scaffold assemblies incorporate alever 15 that allow for height adjustments of a particular leg, alongwith rotation of the base 13, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,471 to Wolfe.Rotation of the base 13 would also accomplish rotation of the axis 28 ofthe multi-directional transport device 20 to be re-oriented at adifferent angle relative to the corrugations. The re-orientation wouldpermit a scaffold that had been pushed diagonally across the floor deckcorrugations—at a 45 degree angle for example—to a position where a taskwas completed, to then have each leg rotated so that the scaffold couldthen be pushed in a direction at a 90 degree angle relative to itsoriginal path, essentially zigzagging across the decking, without havingto push the heavy scaffolding along a curved path.

Although older scaffolding may not be equipped with a lever 15 to permitrotation of the scaffold base, a scaffold leg may nonetheless be fittedwith a pivoting base 70 having a base plate 71 and post 72, as seen inFIG. 9. The post 72 may have one or more pairs of orifices 73 drilledin-line through the post 72, and pairs of holes may similarly be drilledin line in scaffold leg 12. The leg may then be removeably secured tothe based using clamp 80, which resembles a “C”-clamp that has a“C”-shaped body 81, which threadably retains a pair of screws 82. Eachscrew 81 may have a handle 83 capable of accommodating rotationalmovement of the screw, so that when the post 71 of base 71 is insertedinto the scaffold leg 13, the ends 84 of clamp 80 may be driven into thein-line holes 74 of the post and the in-line holes 73 of the base. Withthe scaffold so equipped, and positioned atop corrugated decking, zigzagmovement may be accomplished as described for newer scaffolding, bybacking out the screws 82 and rotating the base 70, so as to reorientthe multi-directional transport device 20.

The maneuverability of the scaffold assembly, with the device attachedto the base of each leg, may be further improved in one of severalpossible alternate embodiments. In one alternate embodiment, firsttapered side 35 and second tapered side 36 may converge at the elevatedend 34 for first and second angled extension plates 30 and 40, andrather than a flat edge surface 37 being formed, first and secondtapered sides 35 and 36 may converge to create a sharp edge (not shown).This would result in the first angular extension plate 30 and the secondangular extension plate 40 each generally taking the form of atriangular shape. Alternatively, instead of converging to a sharp edgeat the elevated end 34, the first and second tapered sides 35 and 36 maybe radiused to form a curved surface 38 (FIG. 6), which may be tangentto elevated end 34.

It can be seen that curved surface 38 may assist in maneuvering themulti-directional transport device 20, when attached to a scaffoldassembly, around any of the upward protruding floor deck anchor studs.The curved surface 38 would serve to guide the device/scaffold laterallyto one side or the other of a floor deck anchor stud, rather thanjamming on or butting against the. anchor stud.

Additionally, instead of angled extension plates 30 and 40 having a top31 and bottom 32 which would be planar and parallel to each other (FIG.1), they may both arch upwards whereby first angled extension plate 30is formed by a curved top 31A and curved bottom 32A (FIG. 3).Furthermore, the top and bottom may be comprised of compound curvedsurfaces, whereby they may also curve upward when moving laterally fromcenterline 28, so that first and second angled extension plates 30 and40 are shaped like the bow of a ship (not shown). This would furtherensure that only a curved surface of the multi-directional scaffolddevice would contact the anchor stud, and prevent jamming against thestud, which would require the user to relocate to the side of thescaffold to jockey it sideways around the stud, rather than just pushingthe scaffold from behind. It should be pointed out that themulti-directional scaffold transport device 20, as well as any alternateembodiment, may preferably be symmetrically formed relative tocenterline 28.

Lastly, maneuvering the scaffold around the floor deck anchor studs maybe further accommodated in an alternate embodiment by having elongatedflat plate 21 also incorporate, into first side 26 and second side 27,tapered edges 26A and 27A respectively (FIG. 6).

The examples and descriptions provided merely illustrate a preferredembodiment of the present invention. Those skilled in the art and havingthe benefit of the present disclosure will appreciate that furtherembodiments may be implemented with various changes within the scope ofthe present invention. Other modifications, substitutions, omissions andchanges may be made in the design, size, materials used or proportions,operating conditions, assembly sequence, or arrangement or positioningof elements and members of the preferred embodiment without departingfrom the spirit of this invention as described in the following claims.

1. A multi-directional transport device comprising an elongated flatplate, said elongated flat plate having a first end and a second end,each of said first and second ends having an extension plate protrudingtherefrom at an acute angle to said elongated flat plate, said extensionplate at said first and second ends each narrowing with increasingdistance from respective first and second ends.
 2. The multi-directionaltransport device according to claim 1, wherein said elongated platefurther comprises a plurality of threaded studs, said plurality ofthreaded studs protruding vertically from said elongated plate.
 3. Themulti-directional transport device according to claim 2, wherein saidelongated flat plate further comprises one or more stiffeners, said oneor more stiffeners protruding upward from said elongated plate betweensaid first end and said second end.
 4. The multi-directional transportdevice according to claim 3, wherein said one or more stiffeners on saidelongated plate are each located at an outer edge of said elongatedplate.
 5. The multi-directional transport device according to claim 4,wherein said extension plate at said first and second ends each furthercomprises one or more stiffeners, said one or more stiffeners protrudingupward from said extension plate.
 6. The multi-directional transportdevice according to claim 5, wherein said one or more stiffeners on saidextension plate at said first end and said second end are each locatedat an outer edge of said extension plate at said first end, and saidextension plate at said second end.
 7. A multi-directional transportdevice comprising: (a) an elongated flat plate, said elongated flatplate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a first end, a second end,a first side, and a second side; (b) first and second angled extensionplates, each of said first and second angled extension plates having atop, a bottom, a fixed end, an elevated end, a first tapered side, and asecond tapered side; said fixed end of said first angled extension platebeing attached to said first end of said elongated flat plate such thatsaid bottom of said angled extension plate forms an acute angle relativeto said bottom surface of said elongated flat plate; said fixed end ofsaid second angled extension plate being attached to said second end ofsaid elongated flat plate such that said bottom of said angled extensionplate forms at an acute angle relative to said bottom surface of saidelongated flat plate.
 8. The multi-directional transport deviceaccording to claim 7 wherein said device further comprises a pluralityof threaded studs, said plurality of threaded studs protrudingvertically from said top surface of said elongated flat plate.
 9. Themulti-directional transport device according to claim 8 wherein saidplurality of threaded studs further comprises four studs arranged in arectangular pattern, and wherein said rectangular pattern is locatedapproximately mid-way between said first end and said second end of saidelongated flat plate, and approximately mid-way between said first sideand said second side of said elongated flat plate.
 10. Themulti-directional transport device according to claim 9 wherein said topand said bottom of said first and second angled extension plates areflat.
 11. The multi-directional transport device according to claim 10wherein said first tapered side and said second tapered side terminateon a flat edge surface at said elevated end of said first and secondangled extension plates, said flat edge surface of said elevated endbeing parallel to said fixed end.
 12. The multi-directional transportdevice according to claim 11 wherein said first angular extension plateand said second angular extension plate each form a trapezoidal shape.13. The multi-directional transport device according to claim 9 whereinsaid top and said bottom of said first and second angled extensionplates are both curved.
 14. The multi-directional transport deviceaccording to claim 13 wherein said first angled extension plate and saidsecond angled extension plate are comprised of compound curvature. 15.The multi-directional transport device according to claim 10 whereinsaid first tapered side and said second tapered side converge at saidelevated end of said first and second angled extension plates.
 16. Themulti-directional transport device according to claim 15 wherein saidfirst angular extension plate and said second angular extension plateeach form a triangular shape.
 17. The multi-directional transport deviceaccording to claim 16 wherein said triangular shape at said elevated endof said first and second angled extension plates further comprises of acurved edge.
 18. The multi-directional transport device according toclaim 10 wherein said first side of said elongated flat plate tapers atsaid first end and tapers at said second end; and wherein said secondside of said elongated plate tapers at said first end and tapers at saidsecond end.
 19. A multi-directional transport device according to claim9 wherein said device is constructed from material having a lowcoefficient of friction.
 20. A multi-directional transport deviceaccording to claim 9 wherein at least said bottom surface of said deviceis coated with a material having a low coefficient of friction.
 21. Amulti-directional transport device according to claim 20 wherein saidcoating is Teflon.
 22. A multi-directional transport device, for use inmaneuvering a scaffold during building construction by sliding thescaffold atop corrugated sheet metal floor decking in between thevertical studs prior to pouring the concrete covering layer, saidmulti-directional scaffold transport device comprising: an elongatedflat plate, said elongated flat plate having a first end and a secondend, each of said first and second ends having an extension plateprotruding therefrom at an acute angle to said elongated flat plate,said extension plate at said first and second ends each narrowing withincreasing distance from respective first and second ends; one or morestiffeners, said one or more stiffeners protruding upward from saidelongated flat plate, and from said angled extension plate at said firstend and said second end; a plurality of threaded studs, said pluralityof threaded studs protruding vertically from said top surface of saidelongated flat plate; and attachment of said device to each of aplurality of legs of a scaffold, each of said plurality of legsterminating on the top surface of a generally flat base, a bottom matingto said top surface of said elongated flat plate, said top surfacehaving a means for securing said threaded stud of said multi-directionaltransport device.
 23. A multi-directional transport device according toclaim 20 wherein said base of said scaffold comprises a post, said posthaving at least two pairs of holes, said leg of said scaffold having anopening for receiving said post of said base, said leg having at leasttwo pairs holes, said post of said base being securable to said leg ofsaid base with a clamp, said clamp comprising at least one screw capableof being received by one of said pairs of holes in said leg and one ofsaid pairs of holes in said post.
 24. A method of maneuvering a scaffoldduring building construction, said method comprising the steps of: (a)providing a plurality of multi-directional scaffold transport devices,said multi-directional scaffold transport device comprising: (i) anelongated flat plate, said elongated flat plate having a top surface, abottom surface, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a secondside; (ii) first and second angled extension plates, each of said firstand second angled extension plates having a top, a bottom, a fixed end,an elevated end, a first tapered side, and a second tapered side; saidfixed end of said first angled extension plate being attached to saidfirst end of said elongated flat plate such that said bottom of saidangled extension plate forms an acute angle relative to said bottomsurface of said elongated flat plate; said fixed end of said secondangled extension plate being attached to said second end of saidelongated flat plate such that said bottom of said angled extensionplate forms at an acute angle relative to said bottom surface of saidelongated flat plate; (iii) one or more stiffeners, said one or morestiffeners protruding upward from said elongated plate between saidfirst and said second ends; said one or more stiffeners on saidelongated plate being located at an outer edge of said elongated plate;said one or more stiffeners also protruding upward from said extensionplate at said first and second ends, said one or more stiffeners on saidextension plate at said first and second ends being located at an outeredge of respective extension plates; (iv) a plurality of threaded studs,said plurality of threaded studs protruding vertically from saidelongated plate; (b) attaching one of said plurality ofmulti-directional scaffold transport devices to a flat base of each legof a scaffold by inserting said threaded studs of said multi-directionalscaffold transport device into holes in said base of said scaffold andby securing said multi-directional scaffold transport device to saidbase with a nut; (c) sliding the scaffold atop corrugated sheet metalfloor decking, said sheet metal floor decking having peaks and valleys,and wherein said multi-directional scaffold device traverses from one ofsaid peaks, and over an adjacent one of said valleys to another of saidpeaks; (d) maneuvering said scaffold such that each of saidmulti-directional scaffold transport devices is directed in betweenvertical anchor studs of said corrugated sheet metal floor decking, andwherein one of said first or second tapered sides of said angledextension plate contacts a vertical anchor stud, said contact causingsaid scaffold to push away from said contacted anchor stud.
 25. A methodof maneuvering a scaffold during building construction according toclaim 23, wherein said scaffold maneuvers in a direction at an angle tosaid corrugations, said angle ranging from 5 degrees to 90 degrees. 26.A method of maneuvering a scaffold during building constructionaccording to claim 23, wherein said elongated flat plate has a lengthrunning at least from one of said peaks to an adjacent of said peaks.